Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was named by the NHL as one of "Three Stars" of the week from December 30th to January 5th.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was named by the NHL as one of "Three Stars" of the week from December 30th to January 5th.
Kuemper (2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .985 SV%, 1 SO) stopped 66 of 67 shots he faced to help the Kings (23-10-5, 51 points) extend their winning streak to four games dating to December 28.
He made 33 saves for his 33rd career shutout in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on January 1st. Kuemper then made another 33 saves, denying every shot he saw after allowing a goal 1:09 after the opening face-off, in a 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 4th.
The 34-year-old Kuemper, who has points in nine straight appearances dating to December 7th (7-0-2. 1.76 GAA, .937 SV%, 1 SO), owns an 11-2-5 record through 19 total outings this season and ranks fourth in the league with a .920 save percentage and fifth with a 2.22 goals-against average (both minimum: 14 GP).
This is Kuemper's second stint with the Kings organization. In 2017, he agreed to a one-year deal after playing for five years in Minnesota, only lasting 19 games before being traded. Over this past summer, the Kings were fortunate to have traded Pierre-Luc Dubois to Washington for Kuemper. Dubois, last season, never seemed to gel with the Kings and now Kuemper is revitalizing his career as a netminder for the Kings.
"I was so excited this summer by the trade to LA, where I'd been before," Kuemper said. "I loved my year with the Kings. Because of the circumstances at the time, it was a short stay, but it was a lot of fun. I've always felt comfortable with the Kings, and to be back brings back all those feelings."
Kuemper won a Stanley Cup a few years ago as a player for the Colorado Avalanche, so he knows what it takes to win.
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